‘The Chatelaine, june, 1929

Helen felt as though she had been given a fortniglit's reprieve. Her husband's ab- sence had a liberating effect on her mind, so that for the first day or two she experienced what might have grown into a dangerous sense of freedom. She needed this greatly, there being so much to do. The accounts of the Lowndes Square job were closed, Clara's cheque in payment of the balance arrived, enclosed with a grateful little note. and there remained when all was done a profit of six hundred pounds.

At the noon hour, when Cherry and Miss Turpin were out. Mark went over the books with her, satisfied himself that the figures were right, and wrote his own cheque for three hundred. He pushed this across the desk as they sat in the little glass-walled oflice.

“Yours," he said, “with congratulations~ though I don't in the least know how you've done it."

“It wasn't so difficult. But why this?" Her voice was level, but the cheque had given her a thrill. She could use it so admirably——-and at once.

“Part of the agreement, wasn't it, to split profits?"

“Yes, but are there any-~—really?"

“There’s this to start with~and more coming. Don't damp my boyish glee.”

“But, Mark." she smiled, “you're for- getting the months we ran at a loss, and that ought to be covered before we call anything a profit."

“That was business risk, and my part of it. Also, it's been practically made up since by sales. This is a profit~and a darned good one. You made it~—I didn't~ and half is yours. All as agreed from the start, and you can't back out now. What's more," he added, grinning, “I see other profits gleaming in the future.”

Helen found it all very difiicult. That had been the agreement, just as he put it, but there had been no proviso for covering running losses. This sum of three hundred «and it was impossible to describe how tempting that slip of blue paper looked~ was hers by every right. With it she could make a certain Tudor cottage a dream of beauty. She had in truth earned the money, but it was Mark who made the earning feasible. Now she proposed to use it to build up an intimate little kingdom where Mark would have no place—except on her regard.

Then in a flash she realized that she could not take it until she had told him that there would be no more profits for Fran- chette, Decorator and Designer. Only one thing to do now-—and no help for it.

“Markl" she said very gently.

“Yes?”

“There's something else.”

He noted the slight change in her voice.

“Another job on?"

“In a way. Do you remember our last real talk?" _ “Perfectly. But I'm still behaving my-

self.”

“I know you are, and bless you for it. Mark, I'm afraid there will be no more profits for Franchette."

“What the deuce do you mean?”

“That is unless you get someone else. I've got to go."

He stared at her, quite astonished. “Go- go where? I'm up a tree. What's hap- pened?"

She put her hand on his as she had done once before. “Mark, Y0U'V€ been 3 Perfect dear.” _

He frowned at her, shaking his head. “Is this a parting benediction?” _

“Something rather like it, I'm afraid- It's no use~it really isn't. Dont YOU 599 for yourself that it can never come to anything——I mean what YOU ‘Vam? ,

“I’m content, as it stands, for a while longer," he said stubbornly. “Don t break things up. I'll go on being good. _

She looked at him with entire affection and shook her head. “You've onlY Slfc‘ ceeded in persuading yourself thatyou re content. But it isn't natural~for ’e1t.her Of us. You know where I stand——it s in the same place, Mark--~—and I know Y0U_ Te wasting your feelings. That’s a hard thing to say. but it's true."

“Call it what you like I'm for it."

“No,_you can't convince me of that. I can’t give you what you want, and, dear friend, you wouldn't think as well of me if I did. Yet it's what you ought to have from some one -and will have. You've built up a sort of composite Helen ~and it's all wrong. And tliere’s always, always Jack. I didn't hide or pretend anything of that from you, did I?"

She spoke with so sweet and gentle a decision that he found it increasingly hard

to protest. It carried a conviction he could not evade. No, she had never hidden any-

thing, nevcr compromised, never given him cause to hope. Strange that this should have made her all the more. desirable.

“If it had been possible." she went on, with the same lingering affection in her voice, “I would have married you. Perliaps it would have been out of gratitude. and I'm not sure that it would have been a success. We're too different.”

“I would do everything and anything you wanted— and you know it."

“I do know it, Mark, and that's just it. Anything I wanted! But I would have expected you to do things on your own account apart from me. I wouldn't have been satisfied with just comfort."

“You've never known what real comfort is, and I'd have given it." he said bitterly.

“There are so many kinds of comfort.” she murmured.

“Is it that you want a career? You could have it."

“Gillam's offered me one three days ago." The voice shook a little, then steadied. “But. Mark, don't think that

“Gillam's«ah~that's it!"

“And," she put in swiftly. “they're ready to take over this place at what it has cost you. There won't be any loss."

“How do you know that?”

“Mr. Powers told me himself. Did you dream that I'd go without some such arrangement?”

“Never thought anything about it~any of it," he said dully. “I'm all mixed up, and . . ." here he stared at her with a sort of obstinate, boyish defiance. “How do you know what's good for me better than I do myself?"

She wanted to laugh. So like him-—-so impuls'rve~so young! No doubt in the world what was best for him. He was an excellent playmate for some woman» one in particular, but in no way suited to herself. And the other woman must be left in the background—for the moment.

“Wait for a year, Mark, then ask me that again.”

"I know what you're blurted out, “but you're wrong. that before."

“Why should I be thinking of anyone but ourselves? And Gillam's do make that offer, and I can't take it unless you accept. I'd sooner stick here and do the best I can. But. .

“But what?"

“You won't ask me to. work, really it wouldn't."

He had begun to see that for himself. Helen here in Dover Street, and longing for Gillam's~the old association changed-~ notice given him that there never could be anything in it, never~money locked up-— Glaisher reasserting himself as Helen's husband. No, hardly good enough, how- ever one looked at it‘.

He sat, fingering the cheque, gazing at her. John Glaisher's wife. “Well, I'll have a talk with Powers. Now you take this. If you don't, I won't."

She drew a long tremulous breath. "I will on that understanding~that you sell to Gillam's, unless you prefer to carry on here."

“Have it your own way,” he said crossly. “I begin to think you always did.”

She laughed, a quick delighted little laugh. paused for a moment. then kissed him very lightly. Her lips just grazed his cheek. _

“You're a dear. and I was never quite so fond of you as I am at this minute."

Mark, turning very red, took both her hands, and was holding them tight when a dry voice sounded at the open door.

thinking of." he I told you

It wouldn't

“Oh. here you are! There was no one in the shop, but I heard voices and marched on. Frightfully sorry."

Helen blushed to the temples. “How -- how do you do, Lady Fort. I didn't know you were in town.”

“Had to rush up unexpectedly. How do you do, Mr. Upton? Can you spare this young woman for an hour or so?"

That was all no contretemps, no em- barrassment. From the expression on the fine, frosty old face. there was nothing out of the way in the situation. As a matter of fact, she was thinking very hard. but neither of them could have told that. Mark made a little how.

“I'm sure Miss Glaisher will be delighted."

“I'll keep her for lunch if she's free," nodded Lady Fort.

She went back into the shop, looked admiringly at some pieces she said she could not possibly afford. took a parting and slightly curious glance at Mark, and so, with Helen in her wake, to Dover Street.

“My clear." she began at once, “Sir Michael and I were talking about you and the cottage last night. and he thought of something that may interest you."

“You're awfully kind, Lady Fort. What was it?"

“Well, I told you that we were more than pleased you should have the place. and I don't know what you've got in the way of furniture. but he mentioned some old oak bits in one of our attics that would be much better in use. Would you like them in the cottage? Tliere’s a chest. a small refectory table just about the right size. and two 01- three other things. You're more than welcome to use them."

Helen colored with pleasure. was very touched.

“You are good!" she stammered. take the greatest care of them."

“We wouldn't suggest it if we didn't know that." countered the old lady. “Sir Michael won't sell them-—-they've been in the family too long -and they need looking after. So there's nothing good about it. When do you think of moving in?"

“I'm not quite sure yet, but I want to have everything ready in ten days."

Lady Fort was greatly puzzled. A week ago Helen and Mark Upton had lunched at Purdon Fleet under the inspection of two pairs of very experienced eyes. But the girl had made not the slightest reference to the coming event. nor was there anything in her manner to suggest it. Once or twice Upton had been observed looking at her in a way that piqued the imagination. but that was all.

Lady Fort and her husband. being sworn to secrecy. had only exchanged a few know- ing glances. They had not mentioned the cottage in Upton's presence. nor had he been taken to see it. All very puzzling! And why didn't the girl say something about Upton now~the natural sort of thing that might follow an interrupted téte-a-téte. There was no sign of it, so all one could do was to make the opening.

“A very good-looking young man that,” she said as though addressing the driver of a passing taxi. “We both liked him."

The moment was irresistible. and Helen struggled no longer. She broke into a clear musical laugh. “Lady Fort, he isn't the man. You're all wrong.”

“Heavens, child! What an extraordinary young person you are! Am I making a fool of myself?"

“No~no-«but perhaps I am. It isn't Mr. Upton. You'll know all about it soon. So you'll understand why I couldn't take him to see the cottage last week."

Lady Fort's crystalline blue eyes blinked rapidly, and she gave an audible sriff. “Of course, I don't pretend to understand you young people nowadays, and we've none of our own-—but do you mean to decide all these important things without saying a word to the man, whoever he is?"

“I know him well enough for that," replied Helen demurely.

“H'm~I hope you do. apologize?”

“For what?"

“Assuming it was Mr. Upton. of course.

Also she

“I'd

Ought I to

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